CVE-2023-43628 in GPSd
Summary
by MITRE • 12/05/2023
An integer overflow vulnerability exists in the NTRIP Stream Parsing functionality of GPSd 3.25.1~dev. A specially crafted network packet can lead to memory corruption. An attacker can send a malicious packet to trigger this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/24/2023
The integer overflow vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-43628 resides within the NTRIP Stream Parsing functionality of GPSd version 3.25.1~dev, representing a critical security flaw that can be exploited through network-based attacks. This vulnerability specifically affects the handling of data streams that conform to the NTRIP (Networked Transport of RTCM via Internet Protocol) protocol, which is widely used for distributing real-time kinematic positioning data from GPS reference stations to rover receivers. The flaw manifests when the system processes specially crafted network packets designed to trigger an integer overflow condition during the parsing of stream metadata, particularly in the calculation or validation of packet sizes and buffer allocations.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of integer values that exceed the maximum representable value for the data type being used in the parsing routine. When an attacker crafts a malicious packet with oversized or malformed header values, the system's integer arithmetic operations can overflow, resulting in incorrect buffer size calculations that subsequently lead to memory corruption. This memory corruption can manifest as buffer overflows, heap corruption, or other memory management issues that may allow an attacker to overwrite adjacent memory locations. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-190 as an Integer Overflow or Wraparound, which represents a well-known class of flaws that can lead to arbitrary code execution or denial of service conditions when exploited properly.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for any system relying on GPSd for NTRIP stream processing, particularly in critical infrastructure applications such as precision agriculture, surveying, maritime navigation, and autonomous vehicle systems where real-time positioning data is essential. Attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability could potentially disrupt services by causing application crashes, leading to denial of service conditions that may affect positioning accuracy and system availability. More concerning is the potential for remote code execution, which would allow attackers to gain unauthorized control over systems processing NTRIP streams, potentially compromising the integrity of positioning data or enabling further attacks within the network. The vulnerability affects systems that receive and process NTRIP data from reference stations, making it particularly dangerous for networked GPS applications that depend on continuous data flow from multiple sources.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate patching of the GPSd software to version 3.25.2 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the integer overflow condition. Network administrators should also implement proper input validation and sanitization measures at network boundaries, including monitoring for anomalous NTRIP packet patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts. The implementation of intrusion detection systems capable of identifying malformed NTRIP streams and network segmentation strategies can help reduce the attack surface. Organizations should also consider implementing rate limiting and connection throttling mechanisms to prevent exploitation attempts from overwhelming the system. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with techniques such as T1203 (Exploitation for Client Execution) and T1072 (Software Deployment Tools) where attackers might leverage the overflow to execute malicious code, and T1499 (Endpoint Denial of Service) for service disruption attacks. The vulnerability also demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and integer overflow protection in network services, highlighting the need for adherence to secure coding practices and regular security assessments of critical infrastructure software components.